AlterContacts

Think Tank for Sustainable Development
In Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC)

Think Tank AlterContacts operates as a virtual laboratory of ideas, incubating initiatives that contribute towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. We develop practices for sustainable actions, helping communities to become more resourceful, and shorten the path to a more prosperous world. Our methods to achieve maximum impact using minimum resources are recommended by the Uni

ted Nations SDG Good Practices Network as "an example to follow and replicate across the globe". In December 2022, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted Think Tank AlterContacts a Special Consultative Status.

03/05/2026

🌿 Is your Mediterranean tourism business ready for what's coming? Green certifications are no longer just badges — they're becoming the gatekeepers to green finance, B2B contracts, and competitive destinations. 👉 Read the newsletter of the EU co-funded project Sustainable Ecotourism Awareness — find out what's free, what's next, and how to get your business on the path to certification: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/green-certification-made-practical-course-4ab7f

12/04/2026

This April marks a big milestone for the Think Tank AlterContacts: we are celebrating seven years!

Back when we founded this organization in 2019, we could not have imagined the journey that was ahead. From the strong start to the low of the pandemic to the inventive turn towards NGO and the heights of being recognized and referenced by the United Nations — it has been quite a rollercoaster. The only common denominator over all this time is our passion for the Sustainable Development of the planet and people.

We are deeply grateful to our many collaborators, experts and partner institutions that have been supporting us throughout these years. Hopefully, many more to come. You have inspired new ideas, joint initiatives and wonderful friendships.

It will take more than one book to mention everyone who has been collaborating with AlterContacts and everything that has been achieved together. Probably one day we will write about that. In this publication we decided to celebrate the heart of our organization: our volunteers.

We invite you to read this wonderful collection of stories from our volunteers here: https://www.altercontacts.org/publications/faces-of-altercontacts-2026

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29/03/2026

We are pleased to share that partners of the CIRCU-TECH project — Circular Competence Training for Aquaculture Waste Management using VR and AR Tools — gathered in Verona, Italy on 24–25 March 2026 for our second Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), hosted by our partner Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani (API).

Over two productive days, the consortium made significant progress across key workstreams:

📚 Training Content Development (WP3): Partners reviewed the current status of the training modules and aligned on timelines for translation and finalisation — a crucial step toward equipping aquaculture professionals with circular economy competences.

🥽 Virtual & Augmented Reality (WP4): The consortium advanced the development of immersive VR learning scenarios, bringing the future of hands-on digital training for aquaculture workers one step closer to reality.

📊 Interim Reporting: Partners reviewed progress on both technical deliverables and financial management, ensuring transparent accountability in line with Erasmus+ programme requirements.

🐟 Highlight of the meeting: A visit to a local aquaculture farm — one of the most meaningful moments of the TPM. Seeing first-hand the realities of aquaculture production grounded our work in the practical context it is designed to serve, reinforcing why sustainable waste management training matters.

The meeting was rounded off with a guided tour of Verona's historic city centre and a traditional dinner — a reminder of the richness of European cultural heritage that underpins our transnational collaboration.

At AlterContacts, we are proud to contribute our expertise in circular economy, sustainability, and green transition to this innovative Erasmus+ KA220-VET project, alongside partners from Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

Together, we are building the knowledge tools for a more sustainable and circular European aquaculture sector. 🌱

👉 Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming training modules and pilot activities!

29/03/2026

🌍 What does it take to turn environmental data into real-world action? That's the question at the heart of GreenScope — and we've just released a short video that explains everything you need to know about our project.

From satellites mapping our forests from space 🛰️ to LiDAR lasers creating precise 3D models of the Earth's surface — the technology to monitor our planet has never been more powerful. Yet a critical skills gap stands between this wealth of data and meaningful environmental impact.

▶️ Watch our introductory video to discover how GreenScope is shaping the future of environmental monitoring:

👉 https://youtu.be/H9qMF-uFMfQ

GreenScope was born to close that gap. Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme, GreenScope brings together universities and experts from five European countries to build a free, open, and practical educational toolkit for the next generation of environmental professionals.

Our approach is built on learning by doing:

📚 A free, open-access curriculum and MOOC
👩‍🏫 Teacher training and capacity building
🔬 Innovation labs tackling real environmental challenges
🔓 Open sharing of all tools and outcomes

Whether you are a university, a private sector organisation in geospatial or environmental fields, or a non-profit advancing environmental missions — GreenScope was designed with you in mind.

🌐 Learn more: greenscope-eu.com

29/03/2026

We are glad to announce that BlueGOV – Empowering Coastal Governance Through Ocean Literacy has officially launched! On 10–11 February 2026, together with partners from across Europe Think Tank AlterContacts gathered in Palma de Mallorca for the project's Kick-off Meeting, marking the beginning of an exciting three-years journey.

🌊 BlueGOV is a Cooperation Partnership in Adult Education co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme. Its mission is to foster a new generation of ocean-conscious leaders by embedding Ocean Literacy into coastal governance structures across Europe.

Over the course of the project the consortium will:

🔍 Research Ocean Literacy challenges in European coastal regions

📚 Develop a targeted training programme and practical toolbox for coastal authorities

🛠️ Pilot capacity-building workshops in Baltic, Mediterranean, and Atlantic regions

💻 Build a digital e-learning platform with open-access resources

📢 Deliver policy recommendations to integrate Ocean Literacy into governance frameworks

We are proud to be part of this impactful consortium alongside six outstanding European partners:

University of Greifswald (lead partner), Germany
Institut za Oceanografiju i Ribarstvo (IOF), Croatia
Associação Natureza Portugal | WWF
Sea Teach S.L., Spain
European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA)
OnProjects, Spain
Think Tank AlterContacts, The Netherlands

Together, we bring expertise spanning marine science, environmental conservation, adult education, youth engagement, and project management — all united by a shared commitment to a more ocean-conscious Europe.

The ocean shapes our future. It is time governance shapes up to meet it. 🌍
Stay tuned for updates as BlueGOV moves forward!

29/03/2026

On 6 February 2026, Think Tank AlterContacts hosted the Virtual Side Event "Beyond GDP: The Voice of Youth in Advancing Social Development" as part of CSocD64, in our capacity as NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC.

We are deeply grateful to every participant who joined us from across the world — bringing their lived realities, insights, and passion. You are the heart of this work.

🌍 We invite you to watch the recording of the event here: https://youtu.be/JnbjoKmSoTM

Young voices from Albania, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Benin, Zimbabwe, and in total of 46 countries, delivered one powerful message: progress cannot be defined by GDP alone.

Here is what our participants told us, in their own words:

❝ Leaders say our economy is growing but our day to day lives do not match the said growth.❞

❝ Progress is when you feel safer enough to live a slower life.❞

❝ The future is something to build, not something to be afraid of.❞

And on the event itself:

❝ I had the opportunity to hear others young people voice, their initiative and that give me more encouragement for my daily life. ❞

❝ I not only met new friends from different countries, but it also allowed me to get knowledge that I couldn't learn from textbooks. ❞

❝ I believe these events and discussions are vital to bringing about meaningful change. ❞

🙏 A heartfelt thank you to our panelists Dana Patricia Novăcescu, Sophia Beiter, Hala Al Naamani, for engaging in a genuine and open conversation. Special thank you to our guest Bora Muzhaqi, Member of the Albanian Parliament, whose insights on youth policy opened the event and inspired the participants.

This is just the beginning. Join us at the Young System Thinkers Youth Summit in September 2026. 👉 https://forms.gle/n98XcPekwEyqKWyn9

29/03/2026

Earlier this year, Think Tank AlterContacts had the privilege of participating in the Partner Meeting of the AI4VET4AI project — held in Athens and hosted by AKMI. This gathering brought together Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers and institutions from across Europe, and we were proud to contribute as the voice of the SME and NGO communities.

The meeting in Athens was a rich, hands-on day of collaboration, covering:

🏫 Campus Concept Showcases — partners shared their AI VET campus visions through lightning demos, offering a panoramic view of how AI learning environments are taking shape across Europe

🧩 Inclusive & Ethical Campus Design — working in cross-national groups to build learner personas and identify accessibility, privacy, and ethics challenges in AI campus journeys

🤖 GenAI in Teaching: A Reality Check — an open and candid discussion on how generative AI is already reshaping teaching, learning, and assessment in VET contexts

🏛️ Institutional AI Strategies — a cross-partner snapshot of where institutions currently stand on AI policy, governance, and staff readiness.

For Think Tank AlterContacts, these conversations are not abstract. SMEs are both the primary beneficiaries and the ultimate test of whether AI-skilled VET graduates are truly workforce-ready. Our engagement in AI4VET4AI ensures that curriculum development and campus design are informed by what employers actually need — not only what institutions theorise.

We are committed to continuing to bridge the gap between the world of education and the world of business, as Europe builds a more AI-capable, inclusive, and competitive workforce.

Project AI4VET4AI — AI-powered Next Generation of VET | Project No. 101104579 🇪🇺 Co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme (ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PEX-COVE).

26/01/2026

Excited to share our second update on the GreenScope project, co-funded by the European Union under Erasmus+ KA220-HED. It targets the integration of Earth Observation (EO) and LiDAR technologies into higher education curricula for environmental monitoring.

Since launch, the consortium has finalized a comprehensive research methodology in Work Package 2, laying a strong foundation for advancing smart environmental monitoring. It guides practical tasks such as national mapping of monitoring practices, stakeholder interviews with EO/LiDAR experts, and institutional program reviews.

🎤 Call for Expert Interviews: we are looking for professionals to share their insights on environmental monitoring and geospatial technologies. We invite:

+ Traditional environmental monitoring professionals (e.g., forestry, water management, conservation)
+ EO/LiDAR and geospatial specialists (remote sensing analysts, GIS experts, drone/sensor operators)

from Croatia 🇭🇷, Austria 🇦🇹, Finland 🇫🇮, Germany 🇩🇪, and the Netherlands 🇳🇱 to participate in short expert interviews (30–45 min).

👉 If you'd like to contribute your expertise, leave a comment below or reach out directly—we'd love to hear from you!

21/01/2026

How can we measure progress in ways that truly reflect well-being, inclusion, and sustainability? How do you see the future beyond economic growth indicators? Join the global conversation on "Beyond GDP: The Voice of Youth in Advancing Social Development."

Join us on February 6 at 17:30 CET for a Virtual Side Event to the 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development hosted by AlterContacts, NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC. Let's redefine what progress means for people and the planet.

🌎 What to Expect:

+ A fully interactive roundtable (no slides, no speeches — your voice matters).
+ Opportunity to share your insights directly with experts and peers across regions.
+ Speed networking and live polls to exchange ideas and perspectives.
+ Representation from youth, academia, civil society, and local authorities.

🗓 Date: February 6, 17:30 - 18:45 CET
💻 Where: Online | Zoom
🔗 Register now: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/i6YZDYILSEmEzYoWzajHKQ

🎙 Featuring:

Julia K. Skupchenko, Co-founder, Think Tank AlterContacts & Lecturer, University of Amsterdam
Dana Patricia Novăcescu, Youth Representative, European Sustainable Development Network
Sophia Beiter, Research Associate, Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe
Nivine Hachem & Hala Al Naamani, Social Entrepreneurs turning plastic waste into sustainable furniture

Special Guest - Bora Muzhaqi, Former Minister of State for Youth and Children of Albania.

02/12/2025

We are happy to announce the start of a new EU-funded Erasmus+ project: GreenScope. On 19-20 November, in Zagreb, together with our partners, we officially began a three-year journey on Advancing Student Skills in Environmental Monitoring using Earth Observation and LiDAR data.

The project consortium consists of partners from five countries:

Sveučilište Algebra Bernays, Croatia (coordinator)
Z_GIS - Department of Geoinformatics, University of Salzburg, Austria
Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences - SAMK, Finalnd
Think Tank AlterContacts, The Netherlands

We will be leading the work package on Stakeholder Engagement and Dissemination. As an organization in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC, Think Tank AlterContacts will aim to raise visibility of the project results, influence policy, and ensure EO/LiDAR adoption through strategic outreach and partnerships.

29/10/2025

We are glad to share that for the third consecutive year, the Think Tank AlterContacts continues its collaboration with the University of Amsterdam on the Social Entrepreneurship course. This partnership strengthens the bridge between academic research and real-world practice, reinforcing the role of AlterContacts as a trusted contributor to the academic discourse on social innovation.

On 27 October 2025, the first lecture of this year’s course took place. Enrollment has risen to 105 students, compared to 70 the year before. This growing interest reflects the value of content delivered by practitioners who work daily at the intersection of entrepreneurship and societal change.

The lectures are conducted by Julia K. Skupchenko, co-founder of AlterContacts and an experienced social entrepreneur with a strong academic and research background. The course is led within the Amsterdam Business School by Stefan Mol, Assistant Professor in Organizational Behavior and Research Methods, with tutorials coordinated by Bart Sutorius, consultant and trainer specializing in innovation and business development.

Each year, this collaboration deepens the integration of academic insight and entrepreneurial experience, shaping future leaders who approach business as a force for societal progress.

Adres

The Hague

Telefoon

+31619032391

Website

http://www.altercontacts.org/

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